Piano-action protector



Feb. 17. 1925. 1,527 002 w. H. MORGAN ET A1.

PIANO ACTION PROTECTOR vFiled March 7 m27- and iIM/yig.

Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED. STATES;

wiLnH, MORGAN, AND HENRY, J. MORGAN, or snnrnnivcisco, cnnironivin,y

:ETANG-ACTION PROTECTOR.

Application filed MarchA '7, 1922. Serial No. 541,807.

To allwwm t may concern:

Be it known that Winn MORGAN and Ji MORGAN, citizens of-"the United States? of America, residing at San Francisco, in the county-of-S"an Francisco-- and Stateof' California, have invented-new and useful Improvements in Piano-irction Protectors, o-f-whichfthefollowing is a specification;

The object of' the invention is to provide a simple-*and eili'ci'ent means for protecting thevinterior of a piano particularly of the grand or horizontal type to prevent access ofdust-v and-inoistureto the action, str-ings, sound board, and cloth-ing andf particularly to provide a means for this purpose which may be so designed and,v secured as to permit of'leavingit inplace whetherthe piano istin use or not oris: open or closedf to the end that if desired it may remain permanently in-position; and with these objects in view thel invention consists in aconstruction and combination of parts of which ar preferred" embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure lis a plan view of the body portion of' a pianooflthe grand: or horizontal type fitted with a protector constructed and secured in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are sectionaly views respectively onf the planesl indicated by the lines'Qi-Qandf 3 8 of Figure 1 to show the means for respectively securing the side and-keyboard edges of the protector to the piano casing Figure 4 isa detail sectional view to show the construction of'a preferred form ofl eyelet.

Figure 5' is asectional view: similar to- Figures2 and 3 toshow a modified arrangement of and means for securing the cushion to which the edge of' the protector is anchored at the keyboard end of the instrument.

The protector consists essentially of a continuous sheet` 10-of felt or its equivalent of a sizeand contour corresponding accurately with the interior of the frame or casing 11 of the instrument but preferably slightly over-size so that when secured in place and subjected to tension to support the intermediate portion thereof out of contact with the strings of the instrument, the peripheral edge bends or folds upward slightly against the inner surface of the frame or casing so as to insure a erfectly air-tight and dust proof joint. he means for securing the protector detachably in position in the frame or casing may be variously constructed-but a simple and preferred"arrangement involves the use of a plurality of hooks 12 of which the shanlts may be threaded toV engage the materialof the casing and 'of which the upturned tongues 12a are inclined outwardly and form an acute angle with the shanlrs'lQbfso that eyelets 13 which are secured in the fabric of' thev protector sheetl at a shortintervahinward fromthe edge thereof rest in the acute angle with the project ing edge port-ions of the protector 4deflected upwardly and lying in contact withthe surface of the casing wall as indicated;

This construction and arrangement of fastening means is particularly ac apted for the side and! rear end edges of the protector whereas at thefront orleyboa-rd end thereofitis preferable toprovide for aV slightly diiferent means offattachment which is also adapted'to permit of tensioni-ng the protector longitudinally, and to this end as shown in Figure 3 a cushion 14 is set'into the frame of the instrument as for example between the molding. strip 15' andi the metallicl frame 16, the insertion thereof being accomplished by temporary removal' of the molding strip, and said cushion which projects slightly beyond the edgeof the molding stri being of felt orv other fibrous materialv at aptiiig it to form a seat for pinsv 17 extendedv through the protector sheet near: its front edge. By disposing these pins in a some what oblique position it WillI be obviousl that the edge of the protector may be drawn into close contact with the frame or more properly the edge ofthe molding strip, whenthe construction shown in Figure 3- is employed, to prevent the passage of'dust and atvthe: same time exclude moisture.

In the modified construction illustrated in F igureI 5 Where it may beheldf either by compression orbyf any suitable fastening means such as glue for engagement by the pins 17a which engage the protector sheet near its edge.

The arrangement of the protector sheet under a tension as above indicated adapts it to perform its function of protecting the interior mechanism of the instrument without interfering with the operation thereof and etfectually prevent the accumulation of dust on the felt clothing elements and upon thc action, strings, frame, etc., including the the cushion 14a is forcedl down between the casing 11 and the frame 1'6 g Y s 1,527,002

sound board, and also prevent the rusting of the strings Which occurs ordinarily under the most favorable conditions to the ultimate detriment of the instrument and depreciation of the tonal qualities thereof.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 5, it is to be noted that the protecting felt `1() is dis-Y posed in order to protect the strings b, the hammers a of the piano action (not shown)A and also to avoid the collection of dust on these parts as Well as on the string plate c and the sounding boards g. ln other Words, the string plate c With the strings b and the hammers a, together 4With the sounding boards g, are belowV the felt, although these parts may be otherwise arranged. The' strings?) and the string plate c with the hammers a and sounding boardsI g are simi lar to those inPatent No. 1,082,608, dated July 16, 1912. The sofunding boards g are shown in dottedlines. It is to be understood that the protecting felt 10 may be applied to constructions of pianos, other than the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent.

Having describedthe invention, what is claimed as neWand Vuseful is 1. A protector for the interior mechanism of pianos consisting of ,a fiexible textile sheet secured Within the casing rof the in-l strument above the plane of the strings thereof and in closeV edge contact with. the inner surface ofthe casing.

2. A protector for the interior mechanism of pianos consisting of a iexible textile sheet secured Within the0 casing of the in strument above thev plane of the strings thereof and in close edge contactrwith thc inner surface of the casing, the Vmeans for securing the edges of the protector being adapted for maintainingV the sheet under transverse and longitudinal tension.

3. A protector for the interior mechanism of pianos consisting of a flexible textile sheet secured Within Athe casing of the instrument above the plane of the strings thereof and in close edge ,contact with the inner snrfacerof the casing, the means for securing the edges of the protector beingV adapted for maintaining the sheet under transverse andlongitudinal tension With the edges of the protector deflected upwardly at the line of contact with the surface of the casing.

4. A protector for lthe interior mechanism of pianos consisting of a flexible 'textile longitudinal tension and consisting of hooks carried by the casing Walls and eyelets carried by the protector sheet.

5. A protector for the interior mechanism of pianos consisting of a iexible ltextile sheet secured Within the casing of the in strument aboveV the' plane of t-he strings thereof and in close edge-contact with the inner surface of the casing,v the means for securing the edges of the protector being adaptedrforv maintaining the sheet under transverse and longitudinal tension and con-- sisting of hooks carried by the casi ng Walls and eyelets carried bythe protector sheet, said eyelets being set back from the edge of the sheet to permit of defiection of the edges of the latter at the line of Contact with the surface of the casing.

-6. A protector for the interior mechanism of pianos consisting of a flexible textile sheet secured Within the casing of the instrument above the plane of thev strings thereof and in close edge contact with the inner surfacel of the casing, the means for securing the edges of the protector being adapted for maintaining the sheet under transverse and longitudinal tensionand cone sisting of hooks carried by the casing Walls and eyelets carried by the* protector sheet, the tongues of the hooks beingdisposed at an outward inclination to form an acute angle'With the shanlrsrthereof toconstitute a seat for the eyelets. Y i

7. A protector for,l the interior mechanism of pianos consisting Vof a flexible textile sheet secured Within the casing ofthe instrument above the plane of the strings thereof and in 4close edge contact with the inner surface of the casing, the meansV for anchoring the'front or keyboardedge of the sheet consisting of cushions secured in the instrument frame and pins extending through the edge portion of the sheet and engaging the cushion. l

. In testimony whereof they afx theirV signatures. Y

HENRY J. MORGAN. WILL H. MORGAN.) 

